HomeSupportUsing the Build Specification Feature in the LabVIEW Application Builder

Using the Build Specification Feature in the LabVIEW Application Builder

Updated Jul 8, 2018

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Software

LabVIEW

LabVIEW Application Builder Module

Issue Details

What is a build specification?

What is a build specification provider?

How can I create a build specification?

Solution

A build specification is the description of a creatable object. The specification contains all the settings for the build, such as files to include, directories to create, and settings for directories of VIs. There are multiple different providers for a build specification: executables, installers, .NET interop assemblies, packed libraries, shared libraries (DLLs), source distributions, Web services, and zip files. Each provider generates a build specification specific to the type of creatable object you select. For more information about each provider, refer to the Creating Build Specifications topic in the LabVIEW Help (linked below).Build specifications are saved as a part of a LabVIEW project so you can save and reuse different build specifications for different purposes. Unlike the Application Builder for LabVIEW 7.x and earlier versions, a build specification is not a separate file, but a part of the project in which it was created. You can have multiple build specifications for the same type of creatable object.

Complete the following steps to use the build specification feature:

From the Project Explorer window, expand My Computer, right-click Build Specifications, and select New and the type of build you want to configure from the shortcut menu. Use the pages in the properties dialog boxes to configure settings for the build specification.

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After you choose to build a new application, the Application Builder user interface opens. Through this user interface, you can configure the settings to fit your specific needs.

In the left window of the provider properties, there is a list of category pages. Each type of build specification has a multi-page dialog box that you can use to configure and edit build specification settings. Right-click the build specification and select Properties from the shortcut menu to access the dialog box.

After you define these settings, click the OK button to close the dialog box and update the build specification in the project. The build specification appears under Build Specifications. Right-click a specification and select Build from the shortcut menu to complete the build.

The LabVIEW Professional Development System includes the build specification feature in Application Builder. If you use the LabVIEW Base Package or Full Development System, you can purchase the Application Builder separately.